MARVIN 2023
Now in its 11th edition, Maratonul Vinului is the first mountain bike competition with a charitable purpose in Romania. This year, MARVIN will take place on Saturday, May 13th, 2023, in the town of Urlaţi in Prahova County, among the hills, vineyards and wineries in the area. The start will be at 9.00 AM for children and at 11.00 AM for adults.In addition to the two classic routes of 31km and 51km, reactivated last year after a period of absence, participants can also opt for the well-known 18km route, recommended for less experienced cyclists.
The participants from the companies will be able to participate on the 31 km route in teams of 4 (with at least one girl)! The 51 km route will also host an E-Bike competition!


Cycling is a sport for the whole family, so this year too there will be a 10 km Family ride, with no participation fee, accessible to everyone: children, parents or grandparents.
Since its' first year, Maratonul Vinului wanted to combine the promotion of cycling as a healthy and ecological lifestyle with a charitable action, donating part of the proceeds obtained from the event to the Bucuria Ajutorului Foundation in Urlati.
THE RACE
Race routes
SCHEDULE
Event schedule
Bucureşti - Friday
May 12th
Distribution of race kits in Bucharest at the BikeXpert Mihalache store
13.00 - 17.00

Urlați - Saturday (race day):
May 13th
Distribution of race kits for the 4 and 8 km tracks (kids), in Urlați for those outside of Bucharest
07:15-8:15
Technical briefing for the 4 and 8 km tracks (kids)
08:50
Start for the 4 and 8 km tracks (kids)
09:00
Distribution of the race kits for 18km, 31km and 51km- participants from outside Bucharest
07.15- 10.15
Start eBike race
11:00
Start of Maratonul Vinului 51 km, 31 km and 18 km
11.05
Start
11:00
Start of Maratonul Vinului 2022 – Family Event
11:15
Expected arrival of first contestant from the 18 km course
12:00
Expected arrival of first contestant from the 31 km course
12:30
Expected arrival of first contestant from the 51 km course
13:10
Award Ceremony/ Tombola
15:00
Time limit for contestant arrival at finish
16:30
Closing of Maratonul Vinului 2023
17:00
REGISTRATION
Registration fees
31km, 51km, 18km
120 Lei: until March 17
150 Lei: March 18 - April 30
200 Lei: 1 - 11 May
Kids 4km
50 lei regardless of the period





CHARITY
Bucuria Ajutorului Urlati Foundation
Part of the benefits obtained from Maratonul Vinului powerded by OMV Petrom 2022 will be donated to the Bucuria Ajutorului Foundation in Urlați.
Established in 2012, the Bucuria Ajutorului Urlati Foundation works to encourage local children from poor families not to drop out of school early and to combat the problem of social exclusion by providing educational and psychological support to 25 children from the area.
Every day the children go to the centre, where they receive food, clothing and school materials and are helped to do their homework in the warm and friendly atmosphere created by the enthusiastic staff.
The Foundation’s day centre has its own vegetable garden, orchard, poultry and animals (including a pony that is much loved by the children).
In 2018, Maratonul Vinului contributed to the building of the pavilion in the Center’s courtyard and in 2017, helped to the reconstruction of the canteen rooftop where Bucuria Ajutorului Urlati Foundation provides daily meals for 30 children from poor families.
In 2016, Maratonul Vinului made a donation to the Bucuria Ajutorului Foundation in Urlați of 1,100 euros, funds that went towards the building of a football pitch that was completed just before Easter this year. With our help and that of a number of other sponsors, Father Manuel was able to build, within the grounds of the Bucuria Ajutorului’s centre at no. 64 Valea Cângului St., Urlaţi, a 200-square metre football pitch for use by the children who visit the centre to enjoy their childhoods and get away from the worries and problems of life at home. Five years ago, these children were at risk of dropping out of school. Now, however, they come here of their own free will to do their homework, enjoy a meal and play at the centre.
None of the facilities here – the canteen, the laundry, the football pitch and the other amenities, not to mention a daily meal for all of the children – would have been possible without the help of the people with big hearts that Father Manuel is seemingly able to attract like a magnet from all over. The latest improvements to the centre to have been made this year involved the paving with rubber tiles of the edge of the football pitch to ensure the safety of the children.
In 2015, Maratonul Vinului contributed 1,600 euros towards the acquisition of new equipment for the Bucuria Ajutorului canteen, which serves a daily meal to over 30 children from poor families in Urlati.
In 2014 Maratonul Vinului donated a solar water heating system worth 2,ooo euros. This new system provides the centre in Urlați with a free source of renewable energy. What’s more, it works during winter, too.
We also supported this charity in 2013, when we were able to help cover a part of the cost of installing a new roof at the foundation’s centre in Urlați. More about the Bucuria Ajutorului Foundation on their Facebook page.
Magic Association
Sport has united communities since the beginning of time and in the most turbulent periods, the discipline imposed by the spirit of competition has tempered, healed, and united. In the Magic Association, we believe this also happens when we all push forward for the common good - this is why the magic of sports resonates with the soul of our organization.
This year, at Marvin, we bike for the right to life and childhood of Ukrainian children from the refugee families we shelter. War - like cancer, is a trauma that can hardly be put into words, but Ukrainian mothers defend their children with the same determination that we have seen in the parents of children with serious illnesses.
Since the beginning of the humanitarian crisis, more than 500 refugees received shelter and were taken to safety by our driver volunteers from the cross border. Moreover, 110 volunteers traveled more than 91,000 km to transport 900+ children, mothers, and elders fleeing the war to either our accommodations, train stations or airports.
Each kilometer you pedal supports the humanitarian effort offered by the Magic Association to Ukrainian families through transportation, accommodation, food, medical navigation, psychological and legal counseling. Thank you for joining us!
Here's how to help:
- Magic Fundraiser – bike with us and tell friends you're pedaling to help vulnerable children. We create a page for you on the galantom.ro platform and you promote the link before and on the day of the event to collect donations. If you want to be part of the magic cyclists, fill in the data here.
- Donate directly to the site, here.
- A simple post on your social media in which you write that you are pedaling at Marvin 2022 to help the children who are in the care of the Magic Association helps a lot to take the story forward and we thank you in advance for it!
Video Magic4Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lk-9xZulNs&t=1s
The Magic Association is a non-governmental organization that helps children with serious illnesses and their families. Initiated in MagiCAMP in 2014, the Magic Association implements today 12 national projects and has helped over 10,000 beneficiaries.
Here, we initiate services and programs, facilitate medical interventions, and find innovative solutions to improve the health and lives of children diagnosed with cancer or other serious illnesses, as well as their entire family.
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